Cetacean by-catch: casting the net for solutions

By-catch is defined as the accidental entanglement of non-target species in fishing gear and has global impact on many species, including cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises).

The UK government has been funding the investigation and mitigation of cetacean by-catch in UK waters for many years, including through a long-term study on strandings that is coordinated by ZSL. The collaborative Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP) has been investigating UK stranded cetaceans since 1990, by conducting post-mortem examinations to try to learn more about the threats these species face.

The CSIP described one of the first unusual mortality events linked to by-catch impact, during a large scale stranding event in Cornwall in 1992. It has also found by-catch to be the most common cause of mortality over the 27 year history of the programme, with over 730 cases diagnosed during the 3700 post-mortem examinations which have been carried out since 1990. In this meeting, speakers will explore the issue of cetacean by-catch and what we have learnt about this threat in the UK.

Which species are affected and what does the pathology of stranded cetaceans examined at post-mortem tell us about the welfare impact of by-catch? What are the policy drivers for investigating by-catch and mitigating against it at both a UK and a European level? And what can be done in the future to try to reduce the impact of by-catch on threatened cetacean species?

Attending this event

This Science and Conservation Event is free to attend and booking is not required.

Every year around 600 porpoises, dolphins and whales strand around the UK coast. Why do these stranding events occur and what role does by-catch (accidental entanglement in fishing gear) play? Following the success of previous events at the Zoological Society of London, join us for a very special online-only event as you join us live behind-the-scenes of ZSL for the opportunity to see a cetacean post-mortem, revealing the important work of the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP).